The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Friday that it has jurisdiction to hear parts of a case concerning allegations of genocide. Ukraine brought the contentious case against Russia under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The proceedings commenced in 2022 when Ukraine filed an application, post Russia’s invasion, in a bid to establish the ICJ’s jurisdiction. Russia rationalized the invasion by declaring its goal as the safety of people allegedly oppressed and subjected to genocide by the Kiev-based regime for eight years.
In its defense, Russia raised six objections, including claims that the ICJ lacked jurisdiction and the application was inadmissible due to a lack of potential practical effect from any court judgment. Russia also contended the application as an abuse of process.
Following careful assessment, the ICJ rejected Russia’s claim on lacking jurisdiction over the matter, while accepting that it could not judge on Ukraine’s claim regarding Russia’s use of force in the initial invasion as violating the rules in the Genocide Convention. The court also expressed inability to decide on whether Russia’s recognition of Lugansk and Donetsk as independent states contravenes the Convention.
It is important to note that while ICJ rulings are binding, they have no inherent means of enforcement. Considering Russia’s previous disregard of the ICJ’s March 2022 order, demanding cessation of military operations in Ukraine, the upcoming judgment may indeed lack practical effect. This perspective is further supported by France24’s report on Russia’s non-compliance.
Additional details and full coverage can be found in the article from JURIST News.